Barclay inducted into PR Hall of Fame

Barclay inducted into PR Hall of Fame

Dr. Russell Barclay, visiting professor of public relations at Campbellsville University, was inducted into Landmarks Hall of Fame at the 30th Annual Landmarks of Excellence Awards Dinner held at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville on Oct. 16.

The Kentucky Chapter of International Association of Business and the Bluegrass Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America are joint sponsors of the award.

“I am very proud to call Dr. Barclay my colleague and Campbellsville University is very fortunate to share his expertise with our students,” said Dr. Keith Spears, Campbellsville University vice president for graduate and professional studies, said.

“It was a great event, I was so proud to see Dr. Barclay receive the award,” Haynes said.

According to the nomination guideline for this award, honorees must be professional and held at the highest ethical standards working a minimum of 15 years in the communications/public relations fields, who has demonstrated outstanding service to the community, who is a role model and mentor to communicators/public relations professionals.

“It is quite an honor for Dr. Barclay to receive this induction because it is typically given to someone from our region, and it has only been given to one other educator in its history,” Rande Swann, co-chair of the selection committee and 2007 inductee into the Landmarks Hall Of Fame, said. “We felt since he is such an outstanding individual who has contributed so much throughout his career, he should be in the Hall of Fame.”

“I was honored beyond words,” Barclay said. “Academics rarely win such awards, and I feel blessed to have this honor, coming as it does from working professionals drawn from all walks of the communications industry.”

Barclay has made major contributions to the public relations/mass communication profession by mentoring more than 100 students majoring in public relations/communications, and the numbers continue to rise, according to Swann. She gave additional highlights of Barclay’s career that contributed to his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Barclay has been teaching for 35 years.

He has raised over $1 million in grants, donations and so on for enhancing PR education and training. He has also volunteered his communication skills to non-profit and governmental organizations.

Barclay came to Campbellsville University in August 2009 after growing bored with retirement.

Barkley and Spears are known across campus for their witty sense of humor which is clearly apparent in their final remarks on the award.

“He makes me look good,” Spears said. “I know that if Elvis was here with us, he would be excited and gratified.”